Conditions are likely to be extremely testing across Britain
and Ireland for today's cards with further heavy and possibly thundery showers
due to hit Goodwood where we begin Friday's preview.
In the 7f handicap Old News ran out a fluent winner in his first-time
blinkers at Salisbury – good to sift – last week and a 6lbs penalty may not
prevent him following up if he copes with underfoot conditions. He did run
poorly on his only previous run on soft ground, however, and I do not think it
was the strongest of races for the track last time. Note he is 2lbs “well in”
as he is due to be raised 8lbs in the handicap from tomorrow.
Spanish Star (1.20) has been raised 2lbs for finishing
second at Lingfield last time on fast ground under Harry Bentley over a slightly
longer trip and today's conditions should be ideal for Pat Chamings'
five-year-old who has run well on all four starts at the track – albeit over 5
and 6 furlongs.
Oti Ma Boati (2.30) won her first three starts for Richard
Fahey including on soft ground at Pontefract on debut. She bounced back to form
when scoring at York on her first start in over 300 days last month and a 7lbs
rise looks fair.
Lady Lynetta has been raised 10lbs for scoring at Haydock on
fast ground last time but she is out of a mare who scored on soft ground in
Ireland and is a filly who I have plenty of time for but the William Haggas
trained filly looked one to follow last time and she gets the vote.
Richard Hannon's Zwelela (3.05) was entered in the Group 3
Prestige Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday but connections have decided to go down
the maiden route and she is taken to land the opener at Newmarket this
afternoon despite being drawn out on the wing in stall eleven.
The filly looked a sure-fire future winner when second at
Newbury on debut in a novice event on good to soft ground although the time was
significantly slower than the first division. The Godolphin newcomer A'Shaari
looks the main danger given she is related to numerous winners including sister
Wuheida who was beaten less than a length in the French Oaks.
I would not want any more significant rain for Man Of
Promise (4.50) although there was plenty of rain around when he got the better
of a sustained duel with Cold Front at Yarmouth over 7f back in June. His
subsequent absence from the track is a concern and he has only had two career
starts which suggests he has had his problems, but he did not look short of
pace last time and the drop back in trip by a furlong is considered a plus.
It is fair to say that there have been luckier horses in
training than Knowing (7.35) who has met trouble in running in his last three
starts and would surely have scored over today's C&D last time had he
obtained a clear passage. James Fanshawe has booked Tom Marquand for the first
time this evening and he can finally get off the mark for the season.
Graeme McPherson has his string in good form, and I hope he
can produce Follow The Sawllow (2.15) fit and well at Fontwell in the near 3m
2f chase. The 12-year-old has never won first time out but has run some good
races fresh and has dropped to an attractive mark. The selection goes well for
Lily Pinchin who takes off a valuable 7lbs. Do note significant rain would be a
negative although underfoot conditions were described as good at noon on Thursday.
I have always thought there was a good horse waiting to get
out with Ashutor (3.15) and the grey is taken to follow up his recent Stratford
success under a 7lbs penalty. Indeed, he has been raised 9lbs by the
handicapper for that fluent success and he is 3lbs better off with Beat The
Judge for the three-quarters of a length he was behind that rival on his chase
debut. There is unlikely to be much between them again this afternoon although
the slightly longer trip and prospect of slower ground edges me towards the
Paul Nicholls-trained gelding.
